The book is organised into
chapters according to dish type, and include chapters on Mezze and salads. The
recipes are easy to read and simple to follow. The book also contains beautiful
images of food that will make you want to start cooking right away.

You will find traditional dishes
such as koftes, menemen and dolmades as well as yummy sweets such as baklava
and yoghurt and olive oil cake. This is for anyone interested in Turkish
cooking, or simply tasty food.

February 20, 2017

A novel of tender love and slow,
unfurling mystery, Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto folds readers into the
lives of Chihiro and Nakajima.

The Lake is narrated by Chihiro,
a painter who was born out of wedlock and raised by her unorthodox parents in a
small country town. When her mother dies, Chihiro moves to the city. It is here
that she meets Nakajima, her neighbour.The novel courses the two as they fall in love, however Nakajima hides a
secret—a secret that Chihiro needs to know if they want to continue their
relationship.

Yoshimoto’s characters are vivid
and nuanced, and the prose is strong in its observant nature, for instance, “Of
course, it’s true that sometimes the pink at sunrise somehow seems brighter
than the pink at sunset, and that when you’re feeling down the landscape seems
darker too – you see things through the filter of your own sensibility. But the
things themselves, out there, they don’t change.”

For a relatively short novel
there is a great sense of emotional depth at play here.

February 13, 2017

'A wonderful book full of passion, verve and humor'
Mark Williams, author of Mindfulness : A practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World.

Ruby Wax is a comedian and TV writer who holds a Master's degree in Mindfulness- based Cognitive Therapy from Oxford University. She has recently been awarded an OBE for services to mental health.

Outrageously witty, Ruby Wax gives out mindfulness advice about relationships, for parents, children and teenagers. A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled contains a six week course based on her studies of Mindfulness- based Cognitive Therapy with Mark Williams at Oxford University. Containing nine chapters and filled with humor, a great read. Anne

You got this! Addresses questions we all have at times in our life like-
What will I do with my Life?
What makes me unique?
Can one person really change the world?

Maya offers inspiration and a hands on guide to help you find your passion. You are shown how to turn your passion into action, and how to find your place in the world.
Maya Penn has done a lot in her first 15 years. Starting a company, being an award winning designer, philanthropist and animator. She has also given Ted talks and been a guest on the view. An inspiring read Anne

February 03, 2017

This month the Movie Club will be
screening ‘Magnolia’, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring an ensemble
cast that includes Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, John C.
Reilly and Julianne Moore.

‘Magnolia’ tells the story of
multiple characters living in LA over the course of one day. These characters
each have their own problems but the overarching schema of the film is that
their lives coincidentally intertwine. The connections between these characters
provide space to deconstruct universal themes of forgiveness, regret, death,
fear of failure and failing relationships.

The film opens with a series of
coincidences and it is this which sets the tone for the entire film; as the
film states: ‘…These strange things happen all the time.’ Characters are caught
up in their own lives and their own problems, this is highlighted by the
episodic rhythm of the film—moving from one character to another—and seeing how
unaware each is of the people so near to them.

The film plays with the idea of
coincidence—how we can never really plan or prepare for anything in life. Director
Paul Thomas Anderson is making a statement here, the epic-ness of the everyday.

‘Magnolia’ was nominated for two
Golden Globes and three Academy Awards.

The film will be screened on
Wednesday 8 February at 6pm at Narellan Library, Corner of Queen and Elyard
Street, Narellan. Tea, coffee, and biscuits provided, BYO snacks are more than
welcome. Stay after the screening for a short discussion about the film.

*Please note this film is rated MA15+ and
contains strong coarse language and themes.